The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-07
WILLIAM n. CLEMENTS,
New General Manager OF the baltimore Il
Ohio-former Connection with tho Road

neW Genernl 1lhnnser OF tho baltimore d
Ohio Form or Connection with tho liond.9
Philadelphia Prt.. w fkt N5,FE' ~
The career Of William NJ. Clements,
who, as announced before, will leave the
management Of the Eric Express to be.
come manager Of the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad east Of the Ohio river, has been q
remarkable onein many respects, and be
certainly 10 q remarkable man In every
respect. Prior 10 the war no was freight
conductor on tho Baltimore & Ohio, and
he first met John W. Garrett, then Presi.
dent OF tho road, near Wheeling. w. Va.
Three rear cars Of Conductor Clements'
train were derailed one day near Wheel.
Ing, and Clemente took tho red signal and
went back to flag an express which no
knew was following. He sent tho engineer
and fireman ahead 10 stop all trains com.
Ing from that direction and TO yet ass!Bt.
ance, hurriedly calling out to o stupid
brakeman: "Pull the train ahead about
u hundred ysrds." The rear. cars had
commenced 10 burn from tho broken
stove in the cabooae, and Clements wanted
TO save tho valusble freight In the others.
The brakeman climbed aboard the engine,
but was too stupid to open,the throttle.
The whole train WAS burned, cauHing a
loss Of over $4,000. When Clements re-.
turned to the 8csne with come OF tho pat-
eengors from the express, which he had
stopped half mile away, he looked at
the burning cars, and, stopping up TO the
stupid brakeman, iloored him with one
powerful blow. A stout, quietlookinR
passenger walked up to Clements and
said: l"Why did you desert your train /?
You could have cent that MAN back with
tho flag and saved these cars yourself. 1t
seems to mo you don't know your bust
ness." ..fs,... ,G.g.Ei'1
Olementg 10 broad-shouldoyed six.
iooter, and when he glared OF his auda.
cious critic many people supposed there
would be another knock.down. "Why,
you d fooi!" he replied, contemptu.
ously, 'do you suppose was going to
trunt that man? ! knew ha WAS fool,
like you, and that's the reason lot him
monkey with the cars while went to look
alter human lives." Es
Conductor, do you know who ! am ?"
"No; and don't care q DIP
~ am John W. Garrett" "Well, don't
care il you are. II you value freight more
than human lives, [ don't. And I will
burn up dozen trains before I'll let ono
Of your Cheap John brakemeu kill lew
dozen people"
Clementa stalked away and busted him
! self directing the wrecking crow engaged
in clearing the track. Old man Garrett
looked quietly on without tutoring auoth-
or word. The following week Clements
| was made passenger conductor, whereas
everyone supposed that he would BIO dis
charged. He rose steadily until he be-
come master Of transportation Of the whole
road. N..
In thin position he waa noted all over
the country for his ability and independ-
ence and his absolute defiance OF every
other mans ideas. His eubordinates said
that he could "get there" quicker than
any other man, and that he WAS the only
chief OF department in the Baltimore K
Ohio service who did not tremb!e when
Garrett came along. He was VIGOROUSLY
profane, and it is limited tina. no even
"cussed the old man" Oh several occasions.
In 1850, just about tho time young Robert
Garrett commenced to be prominentin his
fathers road, Clements had a serious fall
ing out with the elder Garrett, which made
things unpleasant for the next two years.
Finally, when General Manager Durham
was brought to Baltimore from the West
ern division OF the road and commenced
to Interfere with Clements, an explosion
quickly followed. Clements had always
been great atickler for promotion, and
was wonderfully popular on this account
with his subordiDa.es. When vacancy
occurred in al important Office in Clcin-
cnts department he recommended the
next highest official, and Durham named
Il friend from q Western branch OF the
road. Dunha4's man got the place, and
Clements went right in and told Robert
Garrett, then vice president and practical
manager, th4t wouldn't ALLOW DnnLGm'a
man 10 BeEve under him. Il
"But, Mr.. Clements, discipline must Be
maintained" said Garrett. "Well, you
can keep discipline, but you can't keep
Inc on these terms. This Western man ia
q dude, and has neither railroad sense,
common sense, nor horec nense. l WON'T
have him." said Clements fatty. His pro-
family at this time wGs lurid and intricate.
Durham ins!eted on his point. Mr.. Gar.
rett upheld him, and Clements forthwith
resigned. The knowledge that Clements
had been making q fight in their interest
made the employees Of the road idolizs
him. They gave MIN magnificent cold
silver service, worth $500, aud it was
soon admitted that Mr. Garrett had made
u mistake. John King, j., OF the Erie,
who had left the Second Vice-prcsidency
ofthe Baltimore & Ohiounder pretty much
tho game circumstances, knew Cements'
abilities and brought him to New YORK
on big salaEy. The return Of the bIuH
railroad man 10 the Baltimore 4 Ohio in |
higher capacity and al larger aa.sry than
FORMERLY shows that Mr.. Garrett, whatever
his motiveH in allowing his fathers old
iavorite to resign, has never doubted Gle
merts' ability.